Webinar: Improving SEND Provision: Expanding Support, Improving Access and Driving Reforms

Date and time: Thursday, January 9th 2025, 9:30 AM — 1:00 PM GMT
Reserve your place: Book a place at this online event here

  
Key Speakers:

Professor Brahm Norwich, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology and Special Education at the University of Exeter
Amanda Allard, Director of the Council for Disabled Children
Josie Grainger-Francova, Principal of Dorton College of Further Education & Director of Education at the Royal Society for Blind Children
Dr Susana Castro-Kemp, Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development & Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education at University College London
Rob Jennings, Co-Founder of the Dyscalculia Network
Lynn Greenwold OBE, Advisor on Policy and Education Development at Patoss & Chair of the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC)

 
There is a crisis in England’s SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system, highlighting the lack of funding, staff shortages, high turnover of SEND staff, and delays in securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). 

This timely symposium offers local councils, education authorities, disability rights groups and other key stakeholders the opportunity to examine the state of SEND provision, best practice, avenues for improvement, and the new Labour government’s plans for improvement and reform.

• The number of EHCPs issued significantly increased between 2019 and 2023, but the dedicated funding has not kept pace, leading to overcapacity in special schools.
• Research indicates that children with SEND in England are falling behind their peers academically.
• The new Labour government has pledged to improve the SEND system by focusing on inclusivity in mainstream schools, early intervention, and a community-wide approach. They also plan to require all schools to cooperate with local authorities on SEND inclusion and place planning.
• Critics of the current system argue that support needs to be provided earlier for pupils with less complex needs to free up specialist provision for those requiring ongoing support.
• Experts emphasise the need for SEND to be integrated into all aspects of education policy, including attendance, behaviour, assessment, curriculum, and mental health.
• The sources also mention a symposium aimed at examining the state of SEND provision, best practices, and potential improvements.

The programme will:

• Assess the state of SEND provision in the four nations of the UK and the different approaches taken
• Examine and evaluate the new Labour government’s plans for improving SEND provision
• Develop a comprehensive national plan for improving SEND provision
• Exchange views on how to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of SEND staff 
• Draw up plans for cutting waiting lists for accessing EHCPs and ensuring early interventions for children with SEND
• Understand how to build SEND into all aspects of education policy and practice for the benefit of pupils
• Discuss ways to improve multi-agency collaboration for supporting children and young people with SEND involving local authorities, the third sector, schools, health providers and parents

Reserve your spot:

To reserve your spot please click here